Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

I guess I'm lucky, the few times I've bought from there it's always a new, shrink wrapped game.

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

I haven't been in a while but the last time I went they tried the gutted game nonsense. No sale.

That's because it's not out yet. When it comes out they will recycle those empty cases for the next big pre-order and gut Galaxy 2 games to put on the shelf.

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

You only get the opened copy when you buy the last "new" one that they have. So they grab the box off the shelf (with the price stickers all over it and everything), and put a "new" copy from behind the counter in the case (which you have know way of knowing if they have actually been playing it) and sell it to you for the new price.

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

i've seen them do that with games that are out there. the reason why game companies don't send blank cases is because it causes them money. generally, they don't want to spend money on promotional materials like that.

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

I've been wondering about this for a while, but don't buy from GameStop very often, so maybe you guys can tell me. Their return policy on used games is seven days, no questions asked, right?

There are a couple of games that I don't own, but have played a bunch and only need a handful of achievements to complete. If I'm understanding their return policy correctly, I could buy those games used, get the achievements I need, and return them within seven days for a full refund. Am I understanding that right?

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

Looks like you're correct, MWB. Here's their in-store return policy:

http://www.gamestop.com/gs/help/Stor...n%20Policy.pdf

Not sure that's entirely ethical, though.

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

Iirc, at the store's discretion they will give you only trade credit and not a cash/credit refund.

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

Why even shop there at all?

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

This varies by store quite a bit. I've been to ones that only open the last copy, ones that open every copy and ones that open enough to fill one of those wire displays with empty boxes. The most irritating to me is going to pick up a pre-order on its release date and having it already be opened. I only had that happen once, but refused to take it and had them issue me store credit so I could get a sealed copy at another store.

Because they do have some great deals if you watch for them? The recent B1G1 on used games and 25% off anything, including preorders, are great examples. Gamestop sucks if all you do is go by their regular trade-in values and prices. If you pay attention, use coupons and take advantage of promos, they can be the cheapest option around for a lot of games.

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

Yeah, I guess there's a bit of a grey area. That's kind of what I was wondering about.

I'd probably be okay with that.

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

Ordered Demon's Souls for $32 from them (shipped w/ $10 coupon en route) so they're off my shitlist ... for now.

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

That's the key right there. When they have those special coupons and promos the deals are extremely good. I don't remember the specifics, but I was able to trade in a silver PSP-2000 and some throw-away PS3 game towards the purchase of a PSP Go and with the special deal, $115 out of pocket.

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

I got 140 trade-in credit with them for my old 360, can't complain. Don't do business with them in general though.

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

It depends. I spent $46 of store credit on a couple used games and brought them back a few days later. They gave me back cash.

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

They have uses. Sakura Wars on PS2 was pretty much only sold there at retail. I was glad I could get a copy there since many people said their copies from Amazon were crushed beyond recognition in the cheap padded mailer Amazon chose to use.

However, it was sad the asshole behind the counter thought it perfectly acceptable to put a sticker on the paper box even when I asked him not to. I told him the game was a collectible to me and since I was buying it new I didn't want the box ruined when I tried to remove the sticker. Of course it is store policy now to put a sticker on all the shit they open themselves and sell new so I almost had to call corporate to get him not to do it.

So yeah Gamestop has its uses and I usually suffer for the experience in some way.

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

And I'd say you still got take for a ride :D But that has more to do with the choice of a PSP Go than anything.

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

Wait, so this was one of those "open box" copies, then? Was it the last one too?

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

Yeah. They only sent one to each store so getting a sealed one was impossible since they have to open a display copy of everything. I figured better an open one in good condition than a crushed one during shipping.

The PS2 disc case was actually still completely sealed and shrink wrapped behind the counter. It came in an outer paper box with the extra booklets and poster and that was opened. It was paper so that sticker being put on it was not something I wanted to have happen. You apparently can't return their version of new stuff they opened without that sticker. I love that they get to play it both ways. They open it, but you can't return it as new because of it. Aholes. However, I told the guy I had no intention of returning it and to leave off the sticker and we had to argue about it for a minute because he wasn't sure store policy allowed it.

Again, Sakura Wars on PS2 is really hard to find (Amazon just got them back in stock and most stores like Best Buy don't carry it) so I dealt with GameStop and honestly I'm glad they at least carried it. There just always has to be some annoying thing I have to deal with every time I go though.

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

I haven't pre-ordered anything from there in years, but seriously, if that ever happened to me, I would probably punch the employee right in the face....
WHO DOES THIS??? If you pre-ordered something, why in the hell would they have ANY reason to open it up?? Don't they just set aside the new/sealed pre-ordered copies when they get them in? Granted, I don't work for the company, but for what possible reason would they have for opening something that has already been partially paid for and earmarked for a customer?

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

Not only was my copy of Tales of Symphonia for GameCube opened it wasn't even at the store because an employee had checked it out. They blamed me since I didn't pick up the game on release day, but waited 3 days. Then they backpedaled on that and said they accidentally sold my preorder. I was extra pissed because I had paid for the game in full it wasn't just $5 down. I got my money back and bought it elsewhere. Supposedly the store manager nearly got fired over it, but I don't believe it. He was fired a year later for selling drugs out of the store.

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

:jawdrop:
Honestly, I would have taken my complaint all the way to the top of the corporation, and contacted media outlets about what happened....that might be just about the most reprehensible retail experience/practice I have heard...no one should have even touched (what was essentially) YOUR STUFF until whatever defined time limit had passed that they state you have in which to pick up your pre-order (which I have to imagine is much longer than a mere 3 days).....

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

I did contact the district manager at the time. He told me I could go to the store the next day and he would have a sealed copy shipped there from another store. That was all they offered and honestly I didn't feel like dealing with anymore than that. I just got my money back and bought it elsewhere. I was told the store manager was nearly fired, but honestly have no way to confirm that. He ran that store for at least another year.

I have to be honest. I have had plenty of bad experiences at GameStop & EB when they were separate, but it is my fault for shopping there. I try to only do it when it is a hard to find item, a preorder bonus I really want or an amazing sale. I never buy anything there I can get at another retailer unless it is really cheap there and I never trade anything in there. However, I do still shop there on occasion for deals or hard to find items so I'm part of the problem of them being around and can't blame anyone but myself.

I had an issue at EB even before that on the PSone. I preordered Lunar 2 there to get the punching puppet preorder bonus. It was an amazing item to get free. Of course I showed up there on launch day with 6 other people to pick up the game and bonus and was told they never got the puppets and that preorder bonus items aren't guaranteed. I know I canceled my order and so did another guy and that was that. 6 months later a friend of mine started working there and laughed when I told him the story. He was sure the store did get them in, but that the EB employees just took them all. He said at the time (this has to be early 2000 - 2001) the employees helped themselves to all the free stuff and if that meant people that preordered got screwed so be it. The employees would sometimes even take multiple ones if it had ebay value like that puppet definitely did. Again, I blame no one but myself for giving that store any business.

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

Its 48 hours as stated on the receipt. He was at 72 hours. Granted the employee should not have taken home the only copy of a new game and that is dumb as hell. I just make my employees buy that crap if they want to play it so bad.

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

Two day limit for an item you already paid for in full? That's fucking absurd.

Re: GameStop is Vile and Disgusting Part XXVII
 

Wow. This thread makes me feel lucky that I actually got my LUNAR 2 puppet.

I remember that they pulled that pre-order items not guaranteed BS on me when it came to the CD soundtrack bonus for PoP:TTT. I wrote an angree email and they mailed me the CD. The only other issue I had was that they sold my pre-order copy of MGS4 (after first claiming it never arrived) and I had to drive out of town to get it and insist they give me the last pre-order artbook. I think an employee had stashed it for himself because I had to point out where I noticed it tucked away given they couldn't find it.

But those are the only bad experiences that I recall.